Cricket: Familiar old faces ready to boost Aces

After last summer's disaster - one win in 10 one-day matches - there is only one direction the Auckland team can head in this season's State Shield.

Their campaign starts at Alexandra's Molyneux Park today against an Otago team which has, like Auckland, had a mixed start in three State Championship matches this season.

Otago are without top-order batsman/spin bowler Aaron Redmond who has been stood down for one match "for disciplinary reasons" but could have former international Jeff Wilson in action for the first time this season.

Provided he is fit, Wilson is set to play with either Greg Todd or James McMillan as 12th man.

Sean Eathorne has been included as cover for returning captain Craig Cumming and is unlikely to play.

Auckland, too, have some new faces with former Wellington representative Mayu Pasupati set to debut for the Aces as is Chris Martin who played around 50 one-dayers for Canterbury before moving north.

Auckland have a ton of experience in their listed 12 - but that alone was not enough to get the team up last season.

Coach Mark O'Donnell is determined there will be no repeat and with an attack built around Martin, Kerry Walmsley, Paul Hitchcock, Tama Canning and Pasupati they should trouble most teams.

Captain Richard Jones, Matt Horne, Carl Cachopa, Tim McIntosh, Rob Nicol and Pasupati give the hope of a ton of runs. Again that was a forlorn hope last season.

The other first round matches - between Central and Northern Districts at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park and Canterbury and Wellington in Rangiora - will be played tomorrow.


One-day play

Auckland: Carl Cachopa, Tama Canning, Paul Hitchcock, Matt Horne, Richard Jones (captain), Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Rob Nicol, Mayu Pasupati, Lance Shaw, Kerry Walmsley, Reece Young (one to be omitted).

Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Neil Broom, Jeff Wilson, Chris Gaffaney, Gareth Hopkins, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming, Bradley Scott, Jordan Sheed, Jonathan Trott, Greg Todd, James McMillan, Sean Eathorne (two to be omitted).